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Mission Statement: Wake Forest University Department of Anthropology
The WFU Department of Anthropology promotes understanding and appreciation of human cultural and biological diversity. Through academic courses, scholarly and applied research, and public service, the Department provides the Wake Forest community with the tools and knowledge necessary for global citizenship. Composed of scholars representing all sub-fields of anthropology, the Department serves as the premier academic and practical resource for multicultural awareness and education in the University and Winston-Salem communities, enhancing the University’s commitment to Pro Humanitate.
Anthropology
“Anthropology”–from the Greek anthropos (“human”) and logia (“science”)–is the scientific study of humankind, from its beginnings millions of years ago to the present day. Its subject matter is both exotic (initiation rites of the Ganda of Uganda) and commonplace (anatomy of the human hand). Its focus is both sweeping and microscopic. Anthropologists may study the environmental impact of a new industry, the folklore of West Virginia, primate disease patterns, prehistoric cultures in North Carolina, or secret societies.
A common thread links these vastly different projects. The common goal is to advance knowledge of who we are and how we came to be that way. Because the subject matter of anthropology is so broad, an undergraduate major in anthropology is part of a broad liberal arts background for students interested in any career, including law, environmental studies, government, business, international relations, medicine, and in just being a well-educated citizen.
With the current intensity of global actions and interactions and the increasing cultural diversity of our own society, anthropology becomes even more relevant to our lives. In these times of narrow specialization, anthropological study is refreshingly broad. Anthropology is traditionally divided into four subfields: linguistic anthropology, archaeology, cultural anthropology, and physical (biological) anthropology.
The Department of Anthropology at Wake Forest includes all four subfields, as well as a focus on the practical application of the knowledge we generate in solving real world problems, known as applied anthropology.
The WFU Department of Anthropology promotes understanding and appreciation of human cultural and biological diversity. Through academic courses, scholarly and applied research, and public service, the Department provides the Wake Forest community with the tools and knowledge necessary for global citizenship. Composed of scholars representing all sub-fields of anthropology, the Department serves as the premier academic and practical resource for multicultural awareness and education in the University and Winston-Salem communities, enhancing the University’s commitment to Pro Humanitate.
Anthropology
“Anthropology”–from the Greek anthropos (“human”) and logia (“science”)–is the scientific study of humankind, from its beginnings millions of years ago to the present day. Its subject matter is both exotic (initiation rites of the Ganda of Uganda) and commonplace (anatomy of the human hand). Its focus is both sweeping and microscopic. Anthropologists may study the environmental impact of a new industry, the folklore of West Virginia, primate disease patterns, prehistoric cultures in North Carolina, or secret societies.
A common thread links these vastly different projects. The common goal is to advance knowledge of who we are and how we came to be that way. Because the subject matter of anthropology is so broad, an undergraduate major in anthropology is part of a broad liberal arts background for students interested in any career, including law, environmental studies, government, business, international relations, medicine, and in just being a well-educated citizen.
With the current intensity of global actions and interactions and the increasing cultural diversity of our own society, anthropology becomes even more relevant to our lives. In these times of narrow specialization, anthropological study is refreshingly broad. Anthropology is traditionally divided into four subfields: linguistic anthropology, archaeology, cultural anthropology, and physical (biological) anthropology.
The Department of Anthropology at Wake Forest includes all four subfields, as well as a focus on the practical application of the knowledge we generate in solving real world problems, known as applied anthropology.
WFU Anthropology on Facebook
"Anthropologists have criticized the Bitcoin community’s belief that Bitcoin is totally trustless and entirely “run by numbers.” According to anthropologists, this would be impossible because we are social creatures, which means that Bitcoin’s sociocultural layer plays an important role in determining whether it has value, and what that value is. The formation of democratic communities in the digital economy remains embedded in social relations. So, the idea that Bitcoin is not mediated by any institution is seen as an illusion (Tylor and Bill Maurer)"
Why Anthropologists Are More Interested In Bitcoin Than Economists
bitcoinmagazine.com
Mainstream economists are renowned for bashing on Bitcoin. Anthropologists, on the other hand, are becoming more interested in it. Why?
Congrats to WFU '21 Anthropology graduate Carolina Conway! Please read about our Distinguished Senior in the most recent Old Gold and Black.![]()
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According to Dr. Paul Thacker, “Carolina has the rare ability to understand and apply anthropology in socially relevant ways,” he wrote. “She influences everyone she interacts with by listening and understanding with respect and care, yet she never shies from asking difficult questions.”![]()
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As graduation nears and she prepares to embark on a new adventure, Conway noted how grateful she was that her time at Wake Forest enabled her and her peers to explore the wonders of the natural world....![]()
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She’ll miss Wake Forest, but even so, she’s confident she can look back on her college days without any regrets.![]()
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“It’s definitely bittersweet,” she admitted “[But] I’m excited for the next steps.”![]()
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The next phase of Conway’s life will involve the very thing that defined so much of her time at Wake Forest: the outdoors. She accepted a job in New Mexico working as a ranger for the Bureau of Land Management, and she’s ready to take the plunge into the professional world.
Carolina Conway – Anthropology
wfuogb.com
Carolina Conway grew up in Boone, N.C., a mere stone’s throw from Reynolda campus. When it came time to choose a college, Conway noted that Wake Forest stood apart from other schools, in part due to...
More congrats are in order: WFU Anthropology graduate Robby Outland will be heading to the University of Maryland in the fall. He'll be pursuing a Masters in Applied Anthropology with a focus in historical archaeology! We're so excited for you.
Department News
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Sherri Lawson Clark – Poverty Law and Advocacy in America
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Jack Portman – Anthro Major – Forsyth County Struggles to Help Its Most Vulnerable Amid COVID-19
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Hack To The Future: WFU students take Hackathon First Prize
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Displaced in Forsyth County: Economic Mobility, Concentrated Poverty & Home Loss Webinar
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Anthropology Alumni – Jack Portman – Featured in New American Weekly
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A Statement of Solidarity
